Box for stamps, tickets, &amp;c.



No. 642,703. Patehted Feb. 6, 1900.

' B. mums.

BOX FOR STAMPS, TICKETS, 8w.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1859.

(No Model.)

THE mums irrzas c0, PHOTO-LYING. WASHINGTON n. c.

BENJAMIN MATHIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOX FOR STAMPS, TICKETS, 86C.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,703, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed April 22, 1899.

To all whom it may c07wern:

Be it known that I,BENJAMIN MATHIS,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes forStamps, Tickets, &c and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to a pocket box or case for holding postage-stamps, tickets, or the like from which the contents may be conveniently removed one at a time for use; and the invention consists of various improvements designed to facilitate the withdrawal of the stamps and to simplify the construction of the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved box formed with two compartments for stamps of different sizes or denominations. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesame, showing how the finger is applied in withdrawing the stamps. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. lisalongitudinal section through a box provided with a single compartment, showing how the guiding-lip directs the stamp outward. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the two parts of the box separated. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the bottom member, showing the guiding-lip roughened.

As shown in the several figures,the box comprises a lower bottom member 1 and an upper top member 2, the bottom being formed of a single piece of metal, with its forward end upturned, as at 3, forming the front wall of the box, the edges of the bottom being turned upward,forming longitudinal lips 4. The top member is formed also from a single piece of metal having two side walls 5, extending at their lower edges at the inner sides of the longitudinal lips 4 to form a sliding connection therewith.

In the form of the box represented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the top is formed also with a downwardly-extending flange 7 at its rear end, which constitutes the rear wall of the box, and the top is further formed on its upper side with a slot or opening 8 to permit the tin- Serial No. 714,127. (No model.)

ger to engage the stamps, which slot is open at the front edge of the top, as clearly shown in the drawings. To permit of the discharge of the stamps, the box is formed at its front with a discharge-slit 9, formed by terminating the flange a slight distance below the edge of the top, and in order to direct the stamps from the front edge of the flange I provide the same at its center between the edges of the open slot with an upturned and outwardly-extending guiding-lip 10, which is roughened on its upper face to serve as a stop to prevent the accidental escape of the stamps, which, as shown in the drawings, extends transversely across the discharge-slit. This lip does not extend the entire width of the discharge-opening, but is very narrow, to the end that when the finger is applied to the stamp and the latter is drawn over the lip the finger will bend the stamp downward at the opposite edges of the lip, so that a good hold is secured by which the stamp may be removed with certainty. This feature Iconsider of great advantage in that there is no liability of the stamp slipping while passing out, as would occur were the lip extended entirely across the discharge-opening. On the bottom of the box is seated a spiral springll, having fixed to its upper end a plate 12, curved upward at its center and constituting a follower and serving to yieldinglypress the stamps upward against the under side of the top, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of box represented in Fig. 1 the top member is provided at opposite ends with two open slots facing in opposite directions, and it is provided, further, with a partition extending between the sidewalls 5, thus forming two compartments for stamps of different sizes or denominations. In this form of box two bottoms are employed, slidingly connected to the side walls, as in the first instance described, and each is formed with a flange 3 on its outer end,constituting the outer ends of the box.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that my box in construction is of extreme simplicity, and on account of the pro vision of the narrow guiding-lip the stamps may be withdrawn with certainty and facility one at a time from the box, and the lip, being roughened as described, serves to pre vent the accidental escape of the stamps, but does not prevent their ready passage over the lip when drawn forward by the finger.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a box provided with a discharge-slit and with an open slot in its top for the finger to engage the stamps, of a guiding-lip situated opposite and extending across the open slot and less in width than the slot; whereby the lip serves the double function of a stop for the stamps and as a means for guiding the stamps through the slit.

2. The improved box comprising a top and bottom, two side walls and rear and front end walls with a discharge-slit between the top and front wall, the said top being formed with an open slot communicating with the dischargesht and the said front wall being provided with a guiding-lip extending upward transversely across the discharge-slit and less in width than the open slot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M. H. PQI-IAGANS, M. M. HITCHCOOK. 

